Reports | Albert Roca leading the race to succeed Stephen Constantine as Indian football team coach

There are reports that the former Bengaluru FC coach had a meeting with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in Bengaluru and it is speculated that the Spaniard might take over as the new in-charge of the senior Indian team. The coach’s position has been vacant since January when Constantine decided to quit after India’s loss against Bahrain at the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE. However, the Indian federation, which is yet to start the shortlisting process, has revealed that the meeting with Roca was not a planned one. 

"Roca had come to watch Bengaluru FC. I bumped into him as he came for lunch when I was checking out (of the hotel). We exchanged normal greetings and nothing else," a senior AIFF official told TOI.

Roca’s name was there in consideration even before the meeting as his name was also suggested by few of the senior players earlier as well. The marketing partners of the AIFF - Football Sports Development Ltd (FSDL) - has also backed the selection of Roca as the next Indian coach.

Another former Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood is also in the race to take over the role in the national side. The AIFF will start its process of selection in the next few days by releasing an advertisement. There are more than 12 applications with the Federation for the prestigious role in the national side and those include one such coach who managed a team at the FIFA World Cup and won a continental championship.